Sonoco Products Company / Weidenhammer Packaging Group merger inquiry

The CMA investigated the completed acquisition by Sonoco Products Company of Weidenhammer Packaging Group GmbH.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
3 July 2015
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Paper printing and packaging
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 clearance
Opened:
6 November 2014
Closed:
3 July 2015

Administrative timetable

Phase 2 date Action
13 July 2015 Statutory deadline
Early July 2015 Publish final report
Late-June 2015 Final deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions
June 2015 Consider possible remedies and response hearing(s) (if required)
Late May 2015 Notifying provisional findings and possible remedies (if required)
Mid-April 2015 Deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions required before provisional findings
Late March to April 2015 Main party hearing, verify information, consider provisional findings
Late February to early March 2015 Publish statement of issues
Late January to March 2015 Gather information, issue questionnaires, hear third parties
27 January 2015 Merger reference made

Phase 2

Final report

Provisional findings

29 May 2015: The CMA has provisionally cleared the completed acquisition by Sonoco Products Company of Weidenhammer Packaging Group.

Evidence

The publication of the evidence of any party on the CMA’s webpages does not indicate in any way endorsement by the CMA of the views expressed in the evidence or acceptance of that evidence. Publication in this way is designed to assist public understanding of the issues.

Hearing summaries

As part of its evidence-gathering process, the CMA is holding hearings with a range of industry customers and interested parties.

Initial submissions

The CMA’s merger inquiry is independent and welcomes submissions from all interested parties.

Decision to appoint monitoring trustee

On 16 February 2015 the CMA directed Sonoco Products Company and Sonoco Holdings UK Limited to appoint a monitoring trustee.

Issues statement

25 February 2015: The issues statement sets out the scope of the investigation. It outlines initial theories on what might be adversely affecting competition, but it does not set out findings or conclusions.

Inquiry group appointed

27 January 2015: The CMA has appointed the inquiry group.

Martin Cave (Chairman), John Harley, Michael Hutchings and Jayne Scott.

Terms of reference

27 January 2015: The CMA has referred the completed acquisition by Sonoco of Weidenhammer for an in-depth phase 2 investigation.

Phase 1

Phase 1 date Action
25 February 2015 Decision published
13 January 2015 Decision announced
13 November 2014 Launch of merger inquiry
10 November to 21 November 2014 Invitation to comment
5 November 2014 Initial enforcement order

Reference decision

Reference unless undertakings accepted

Launch of CMA merger inquiry

13 November 2014: The CMA announced the launch of its phase 1 investigation by notice to the parties.

Initial enforcement order

5 November 2014: The CMA imposed an initial enforcement order on Sonoco pursuant to section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002.

### Amendments/consents granted.

Published 3 July 2015
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